Hero Or Villaness

"Run! Run as your life depends on it!!!" Nezerra screams at Athan as he continued to glare at her. "What are you looking at, boy? Run!"

"I am, so stop screaming at me!" Athan said as he ran all around across the

"Tch, I can't believe he is that person's son," Nezerra said to herself while she looked after Athan. "Really, you act like your dear mommy but don't have her amazing stamina."

"Why are you slowing down suddenly, boy!" Nezerra shouted at Athan again as he grumbled under his breath. "What did you say?"

"Nothing!" Athan shouted as he continued to run but as he ran he observed Nezerra with hawk-like eyes, thinking to himself 'I need to gain a bit of her trust for now so I can find more information to escape this place. I also need to ask somehow to the old lady who was that man. He might be my relative or something but at the end that doesn't matter I just need to quickly escape so I could meet mama soon. .."

As Athan thought of his mom, a tear fell down from his beautiful eyes and he said to himself "I miss you, mama..."

"Ahhh..." Nezerra saw as she saw the tear that fell from Athan's eye. "Evil Empress, your son is just like you too soft-hearted for his own good and acts all tough.".

"This really reminds me of the time when I first met you," Nezerra said as she daydreamed of the past but while Nezerra daydreamed Arista was preparing herself as she was going to meet up with Dior tonight.

---

"Okay, Kotá. Can you detect Athan somehow?" I said as I went to a nearby inn as I clenched my fists when I remembered Nezerra holding Athan.

"Of course I can't, we are speaking about a Yeuía here," Kotá said as I g.r.o.a.n.e.d.

"How all things why is are Yeuía's good at hiding their aura?!" I said as I continued "But never the less Kotá help Dior come here safely, okay?"

"Yes, Mam," Kotá said as he checked out the girls in the street from the window. I slapped his head and he said "Ow! What was that for?!?'"

"Say it again." I said as he said, "YES, MAM!"

"Good, now help me investigate the plausible areas where she could be hiding for these last few years," I said as Kotá g.r.o.a.n.e.d but suddenly looked at me with serious eyes. "Evil Empress, when will you forgive yourself?"

I was taken aback at what Kotá said but replied "After what I have done, Kotá? Never plus it is best to be just like this you know. Yes, I made a mistake abandoning you-"

"Thank goodness you know." Kotá said as I rolled my eyes and continued on "As I was saying yes it was imm.a.t.u.r.e of me to abandon you before and my responsibilities to technically still look after the Empire but in the end, I didn't regret what I did."

Kotá looked at me with sad eyes while he just said "Arista, I am still going to wait for the day when you realize it is not your fault you know but again because of your stubbornness that seems impossible."

I laughed a bit and just said "I know."

"Arista..." Kotá called me as I looked at him straight in the eyes once more. "You do know even if I act like this I care for you deeply you know?"

"I know that so thank you Kotá," I said as I gave Kotá a sad smile.

"Your welcome, Evil Empress..." Kotá said as he stood up and looked at me for one last time as he said "Operation finding Athan is on the go so stop giving me that sad smile Arista because I won't leave you but maybe when I finally get the woman of my dreams maybe I-"

I threw a pillow at Kotá as he dodges it and said "I know so go!!"

When I said that, Kotá smirked and left leaving me alone in the room as I sighed to myself.

"Okay now back to business." I closed my eyes and pictured the map of the whole Empire in my head.

Then after I pictured the whole map of the Empire I realized I don't have a single piece of paper or a pencil.

So I wore my cloak that was on the bed and went to the front desk as I said "Excuse me may I meet the owner of the inn?"

"No, I am sorry you can-"

When the lady in front of the desk saw me she smiled at me and said "I will ask him if you can madam is that fine?"

"Is fine thank you and also..." I said as I held her hand and smiled. "It's fine to rest for once and a while okay because I am sure your family would also want that for you. "

"H-how did you-"

I touched her wrist with my other hand to feel her heart rate as I talked and said "Your hands are rough from working so much and also how you sigh every time can indicate that you are tired too and I can also tell because of your eyebags. "

"B-but how did you know about my family problems?" The desk lady said as I smiled at her and pointed at the family that was eating happily outside.

"Well the moment I came here, I noticed that you looked at them filled with envy so it can mean a few things but as I saw the state you are in so it was easy to connect the dots," I said as I saw her jaw dropped.

"Wow! Amazing, madam." The desk lady said as I continued to smile at her and she said "Oh, I forgot you want to meet with sir right? Well, come! I lead you to him."

I continued flashing a smile as the desk lady said to her co-worker "I will be leading madam, okay so make sure to do a good job."

"Yes, Mam!" Her fellow co-worker said as she started leading the way.

"This way madam." The desk lady said as she showed me the front door of the inn owner's room. "Ah, I forgot to ask you what is your name?"

"Leena." Leena said to me as I continued to smile at her as she knocked on the door saying "Sir, sorry to disturb you but I brought in you a guest."

There was no response so she opened the door, letting me see the face of the owner of the inn.

When she left, the inn's owner said nothing and continued to work so I sat down.

"Hurry and state your business." The owner said as I continued to observe him.

He's blinking too much but why? I looked around the room and saw his legs were pointing at a closet that was on the left side of the room.

Then I saw him biting his lips and I smirked a bit. I was about to speak up until the owner stood up and looked at me straight into the eye and I saw it relax a little.

"I don't even know you so why are you here and how did you even convince Leena to come here?"

The owner said as I said, "I just have come to borrow a piece of paper and a pencil please."

"Tch, if that was it why didn't you ask Leena for some earlier." The owner gave me a piece of paper and a pencil and said "Now please go, madam, because you are interrupting my precious time."

I noticed the inn owner's continuous blinking and I saw him cross his arms.

"I am sorry for making you uncomfortable sir and I won't tell whoever you want about your secret lover. Now excuse me." I said as I got up getting the piece of paper and pencil from his hand.

When I was about to reach the door, he said "Stop right there. How dare you accuse me of having a secret lover."

I smirked and looked at the owner as I saw the ring on his hands. "Well, I won't tell your wife, sir, because it isn't my business and if you want to ask me how I knew well it was pretty obvious from the moment I just got here."

"What the-"

I interrupted him as I continued "Number one how you did not even look up the moment I got here also your continuous blinking because did you know how that can indicate discomfort and distress?"

"Now listen here-"

I didn't listen to him but I just continued "Also how your legs pointed to the closet. It was easy to connect the dots you know and tell that you were hiding something but not only that the moment your eyes relaxed when you thought you found out I wasn't your wife. Lastly, your messy hair gives it all out. "

As I said that I bowed down saying, "I am sorry for wasting your time but I promise I won't tell as long as you extend my stay."

I left the room leaving the shocked face of the inn's owner.

When I arrived at my room, I started drawing the map of the Empire as I waited for nightfall to come.

---

"Dior," Amaranthos called the capital of the royal guards as they arrived at the palace.

"Yes, your majesty?" Dior said.

"Tonight you will not leave my side because I need you to help me tighten the training of the guards," Amaranthos said as he narrowed his eyes at Dior who still had a serious on his face not leaving any holes for Amaranthos.

"Yes, your majesty." Is what all Dior said as Amaranthos turned his back on Dior and thought 'Now let's see what will happen.'

---

So when nightfall came Kotá reported to me and said "Your hubby stopped Dior from coming here tonight because of work for all days."

I sighed and said, "I guess it can't be helped so we have to wait for tomorrow night instead."

Kotá g.r.o.a.n.e.d as he realized he has a lot of work ahead of him and I just laughed but then I looked anxiously at the window as I saw the kid's parents calling them from dinner and I started thinking hundreds of things at once.

Did Athan already eat properly?

Is he still sick?

Or what is he doing?

Is Nezerra treating him well?

Is he out of danger or harm?

Those thoughts swirled through my mind as I clenched my fists.

The following night it was the same result Amaranthos called for Dior again.

It happened again and again for the whole week until I got annoyed.

"Kotá any report about Dior or a reply to my letter?" I asked him as he nodded his head. I smiled at Dior because yesterday when I thought about marching to the palace I stopped myself so I just wrote a letter.

"Yes, he said he wanted to apologize to you and here," Kotá said as he handed me Dior's letter.

"Ahhh, thank goodness," I said as I opened it.

It said:

~~~~~

Dear Empress,

I am sorry for my incompetence but the Emperor has ordered me to do a sudden inspection so all day I am very busy and barely have time to sleep.

And from your letter, I have already sent

my top assassins to search for him all across the empire so I hope that helps you even a bit.

But on the side note, I also wish to report to you something very important rumor that I heard from one of the guards that came to report to the Emperor just recently. The prime minister in one of his inspections of the Empire found the so-called genius of the century that is at the age of four to five just recently and is also planning to let him and his majesty meet one another tomorrow night at the ball for the celebration for the founding of the Empire.

I reported this to you because your last letter two years back you have mentioned to me that the Crown Prince was a very smart boy. I also hope this helps and wish my suspicions are wrong because you also wrote in your letter that the Crown Prince is also four years of age.

So I just hope the Crown Prince is safe and also wish you luck as you search for him.

Till next time,

Dior

~~~~~

As I read the letter, again and again, my hands started to tremble and I just said to Kotá in a lot and dark voice. "Kotá."

"What's wrong Arista?" Kotá said as he noticed my dark expression.

"We are going to the palace tomorrow night," I said.

"Arista what are you saying?" Kotá said as I just ignored him as I closed my eyes trying to search for Athan but in the end, I can't see his aura anywhere.

"I am not sure what is happening but just to make sure..." I said as I grabbed a piece of paper and pencil and started writing as Kotá read Dior's letter.

When I have finished, Kotá has already finished reading Dior's letter and then started reading my letter understanding the situation.

"Hurry," I said as Kotá nodded his head vanishing.

I looked at the window saying to myself "W-what in the world is happening?"